Dabrowski the hero with penalty save as Hibs stun Premier League giants Arsenal
HIBERNIAN
Boyle 21, Mackay 69 ARSENAL 1
Smith Rowe 81
2
Hibs marked their first game at Easter Road in front of fans for nearly 500 days with a fine victory against Arsenal.
For the first five or 10 minutes, every positive move was greeted by a large cheer from the 1,800 or so Hibs fans, but the noise was even louder when Martin Boyle and Daniel Mackay found the net.
If there was any trepidation on the part of the Hibs defence at facing English Premier League stalwarts in Pierreemerick Aubameyang and Willian they did not show it, Paul Hanlon and Ryan Porteous both stepping in to block early Aubameyang efforts.
It was Eddie Nketiah who had the first real chance of the game, dispossessing Hanlon about 25 yards from goal after just five minutes and having a free run at Matt Macey, but he fired narrowly wide.
The escape stirred Hibs into action, Stevie Bradley’s crosscum-shot being gathered easily by Arthur Okonkwo, but the 19-year-old ’keeper did not look too comfortable minutes later as he fumbled a Boyle cross out for a corner.
At the other end, Macey denied Reiss Nelson and Nketiah, so when Hibs took the lead midway through the half it was somewhat against the run of play – Cedric’s passback
looked simple enough to deal with, but Okonkwo swiped at fresh air, leaving Boyle to tap the ball into the empty net.
Bradley then smacked the base of the post as Hibs took advantage of some slack defending by the visitors.
Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack, making no fewer than seven changes at the break, while Hibs made just one
switch, replacing Macey with Dabrowski and the substitute ’keeper was called into action after just five minutes as he tipped a Nicolas Pepe free kick on to the woodwork and out for a corner.
Despite the change, the Gunners looked more dangerous, Alexandre Lacazette proving a tricky customer in and around the box.
The French striker had a glorious chance to level the score on the hour mark but miskicked, and Dabrowski smothered the loose ball. The ’keeper was then relieved to see a vicious free kick from Pepe smack the woodwork.
Hibsintroducedkylemagennis and Mackay on 67 minutes and the latter’s first action was to put the hosts 2-0 up, the summer signing getting the final touch after Hanlon headed a corner back across the face of goal.
Within five minutes Arsenal had a penalty after Lacazette was bundled over, but Dabrowski guessed correctly and denied Pepe for a second time.
Arsenal continued pressing and were rewarded when substitute Emile Smith Rowe finished from close range at the back post, but Hibs held on. Hibernian: Macey (Dabrowski 45), Mcginn, Hanlon (capt), Porteous (Hallberg 70), Stevenson, Newell (Magennis 67), Gogic, Boyle (Mackay 67), Allan (Campbell 62), Bradley (Wright 62), Nisbet (Gullan 80). Arsenal: Okonkwo (Hein 45), Cedric (Bellerin 62), Clarke (Rekik 45), Mari, Kolasinac (Giraud-hutchinson 80), Nelson (Pepe 45), Elneny (Henry-francis 75), Maitland-niles (Smith Rowe 45), Willian (Partey 45), Nketiah (Balogun 45), Aubameyang (Lacazette 45).